As the city celebrates shopping festivals in neon-lit malls, this was the good old yard sale, organised by Delhi’s oldest animal rescue NGO, Friendicoes. And on sale was anything from vacuum cleaners to Guns N’ Roses CDs.

The proceeds would go towards helping stray animals in the city.

Garima Bakshi, 13, hates dogs but was “glad” she stopped by: “I picked up an old copy of Tinkle comics and a new one of Peter Pan.”

For Rahman Zaidi, 23, the sale was a trip down nostalgia lane. “We should have more of these gatherings in Delhi, because it’s only when people turn out their closets do we find the really priceless stuff. I found CDs of Friends, old picture frames, records and a book on the Frog Prince. This is a refreshing concept.”

For those who like a good rummage, Friendicoes plans to make the yard sale a monthly affair. “The idea took shape when a lot of people donated us stuff we didn’t really know what to do with,” said Tandrali, a volunteer with Friendicoes. “Dogs do not really need records and CDs, so we decided to get more things together and do a yard sale.

“It’s a great platform for all kinds of people to come in and look around.”

And for those not interested enough in antique stuff, there was the kitchen to rely on. Urvi Sharma, 13, a student of Vasant Valley School, came to sell a batch of self-made brownies. Accompanying her was her dog: “This is a great outing for me and my dog. My collie is more excited than I am.”

Komal GB Singh, formerly a news anchor with Doordarshan, said: “I want to tell everyone not to throw anything away. I have bought loads of stuff here. If anyone doesn’t want anything, they can donate it to the Friendicoes yard sale, and the animals will thank them for it.”